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Forest access for all on new Lamington track

Lamington National Park’s first track accessible to people of all mobility levels was officially opened today (12 November) at Green Mountains section, capping off centenary celebrations for the Gondwana Rainforests of Australia World Heritage park in the Gold Coast hinterland.

Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS) Regional Director South-East Mick Cubis said the 900 metre wheelchair-accessible track through the world heritage-listed rainforest was a fitting way to kick off the park’s next 100 years.

"The Centenary track fits with the vision of Romeo Lahey, a key advocate for this beautiful park in the early part of the 20th century," Mr Cubis said.

"Romeo had a vision that the park would include properly surveyed tracks that were free of stones and roots so everyone, no matter their age or ability, could enjoy the rainforest."

Mr Cubis said the class 1 universal-access Centenary track lead from the Green Mountains carpark to the start of the Python Rock track (class 3) and Moran’s Falls (class 4) track.

Mr Cubis said the track had a smooth surface made of 95% recycled bitumen – the first use of the product in a national park or world heritage area in Queensland.

"Contractors and park rangers took five months and over 1000 tonnes of materials to construct the Centenary track, including some impressive dry-stone walling that Romeo Lahey and early track construction teams would have been proud of," he said.

"The new track cost $346,000, part of $1 million spent on works to mark the park’s 100th birthday in July."

The other centenary projects included trail and lookout upgrades, new sections of track, refurbished and modernised information centres, living history re-enactments, and a Foresters Hut museum and display. A 586 hectare addition of land to the park was announced on the park’s birthday.

The birthday was also marked by events where descendants of the park’s advocates got together with rangers, natural history association members and other Lamington lovers to share stories and celebrate the park’s human and natural history.

"The works and events have set us up for the next 100 years, and have left the place in good nick for coming generations to enjoy Lamington," Mr Cubis said.

He thanked the rangers, volunteers, Binna Burra and O’Reilly’s resorts, and other contributors to the projects.